Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Please don't sue.
The following weeks were some of the best of Harry's life; it was certainly the most enjoyable summer ever. Time rushed forward, and before Harry knew it, it was the end of July.
Harry had just finished a quiet walk with Ginny when he realized that it was his birthday. Yet despite the notice from Ron, everything seemed to be going normally. However, when the pair entered the Burrow, they were immediately assaulted by countless cries of "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"
Harry looked around and saw the entire Weasley family, Hermione, and a large group of people Harry didn't recognize. Although Hermione was obviously glad to see him, it seemed to Harry that she was even more glad to see Ron. Ron for his part looked completely ecstatic about the new group of people, although Harry didn't know why.
Ginny stood in front of everyone and faced Harry. "Harry, we've got a big surprise for you. Do you recognize any of these people?" Harry looked at the group she was pointing to; they looked very familiar, but Harry couldn't place them.
Harry couldn't come up with where he had seen them, but was saved by Ron bursting out with joy, "It's the Chudley Cannons!" Harry broke out into a smile.
Charlie Weasley came forward, "We decided that it's been too long since you've played Quidditch, and the Chudley Cannons jumped at the chance to play with you." Harry suddenly realized where he had seen the group before – they were plastered all over Ron and Ginny's walls! "This is Doug MacLean, the primary team's seeker," Charlie continued, "and these two are Jason Waller and Jerome Bell, the primary beaters. Robert Norton, Bing Evans, and Graham Morris are the primary chasers, and Jennifer Berger is the keeper – the only female keeper in the league." As Charlie finished, Jennifer blushed, although it seemed to Harry that it was theatrical. She had a glint in her eye that he recognized well from Oliver Wood.
Charlie turned to his right and introduced the secondary team, although in an abbreviated format. Harry hoped the secondary team wasn't offended as Charlie said, "Ray and Ronald; beaters. Vernon, Chris, and Jeff; chasers. Jean, seaker. And Sam, keeper."
Harry shook hands with everyone, and laughed as Ron did as well. Although it was his birthday, Harry knew Ron was enjoying this just as much as he was. After heading outside, Doug MacLean drew up quick teams. Several of the Cannons stayed down to watch, as Charlie, Harry, Ginny, and Ron took to the sky.
Harry was briefly worried that the game would turn into a deep competition, but it seemed the Chudley Cannons realized it was just a leisure game. Every few minutes, one would dive to the ground, and one of their counterparts would take their place. Harry had to try hard to remember which team was his, since twenty minutes later none of his original team were on his side, and a few were even playing on the opposite team. He supposed this made it even easier to play a leisure game, since half an hour later, you were likely to be playing on the opposite side!
Harry, Charlie, Doug MacLean, and Jean Nesteroff took turns being seeker, although the chasers weren't too concerned with the score, since the snitch had been caught five times already and the game was still going. Harry noticed that Doug and Jean were never in the air at the same time, and when they played against him, they didn't seem to be trying very hard.
"What are you doing?" Harry asked Doug, as they both circled high above everyone else, "Why aren't you trying to find the snitch?"
"I am too trying to catch the snitch!" Doug called back, but Harry could hear the slight quiver in his voice.
"Whenever we both go after the snitch, you hang back a little and watch me. It's almost like…" Harry stopped on his broomstick, and asked, "You're not scouting me, are you?"
Doug didn't know what to say, and eventually gave Harry a guilty smile. "So that's why!" Harry said, "I wondered why you and Jean were never in the air at the same time." Harry looked down at Jean, who was watching Harry like a hawk. Doug noticed his attention, and started to laugh.
"Well, I thought this was a friendly game. I guess I'll have to try now," Harry said jokingly. Harry suddenly noticed the snitch below him by about ten meters, and decided to try something he had never done before.
Doug gasped as Harry intently slid off his broomstick and plummeted to the earth. Harry pointed his wand behind him and shouted "Accio Firebolt!" all while keeping his eye on the snitch he was rapidly falling to.
As Harry approached, the snitch seemed to notice him and darted to the side. Harry's hand shot out and grabbed it. Harry looked over his shoulder, and saw his Firebolt had almost reached him. Harry stretched the hands out and grabbed it; he was holding onto the broomstick now upside down, while simultaneously holding the snitch and wand as well.
Harry grunted and pulled his broom out of the dive, and felt blades of grass brush against the backside of his robes. He quickly pulled up, still on the underside of the broomstick, and righted himself; Harry looked up to see Doug's face shaking incredulously.
"Wow, Harry!" Ron called out, "But I think Hermione taught you that one." Harry and Ron laughed, remembering Hermione's brilliant capture of the Triwizard Cup the year before, and Harry landed to be replaced by Charlie Weasley.
Harry decided to take it easy, and conjured a lawnchair for himself. He stretched out, and watched the game above. Ron was certainly enjoying himself. When he wasn't trying out moves with the cannon chasers, he was talking with Robert Norton about the game. Harry sniggered as he saw that Bing Evans was doing the same thing as Doug and Jean were. Ron, however, didn't seem to noticed that he was being watched as a potential prospect for the team. Harry knew that it would make Ron's day, as Ron had loved the Chudley Cannons and Quidditch in general for as long as Harry had known him.
Ginny walked up, and conjured her own chair beside him. "So," she asked, "do you like your party?"
Harry smiled, and said, "It's wonderful, Ginny! The best part is, I know what we can do for Ron on his birthday."
Ginny looked up at Ron, who was obviously enjoying himself. "I don't know," Ginny said softly, "The Chudley Cannons came up partly to watch you play. I mean, Ron's great, but I don't know if they'd come up to watch him."
Harry smiled again and said, "Oh yeah? Look at Bing up there." Harry pointed to the Cannon chaser, who wasn't even flying around and watching Ron intently. Harry laughed as he pulled out a little notebook when Ron made a spectacular pass to one of his teammates.
Ginny noticed this too, and laughed, "Ron can be somewhat clueless at times." Ron indeed was completely unaware of what was going on, and Bing discretely put his notebook back within his robes.
"So what are you going to do after this year?" Ginny asked.
Harry realized he didn't have an answer to the question. "I don't know," he admitted, "To tell you the truth, I hadn't given it much thought. I do know that I want to stay in England, at least for a year."
Ginny smiled, but asked, "Oh, really! Why is that?"
Harry shrugged nonchalantly and said, "Well, there's this girl I really like at Hogwarts. But she's a year younger than me, and I'm worried that all those Hogwarts boys will be tempted."
Ginny pretended to be hurt and said, "Maybe you should trust the girl. I'm sure she'll be fine."
"Oh, I don't know," Harry coyly shot back, "After all, the guys at Durmstrang were upset she weren't available for a dance. Especially Lukas."
Ginny blushed and stammered, "But… How… I'm going to kill Hermione!"
Harry laughed; Hermione had indeed told him about how Ginny had been asked to dance by a guy named Lukas last year. "Anyway, I have to thank you, Ginny. This was wonderful!"
"Was?" Ginny said with a large smile, "You seem to believe the night is over, Mr. Potter."
Harry grinned and asked, "Oh, so you have something else planned, now?" Ginny didn't answer him, but gave him a roguish smile.
The last 4 weeks at the Burrow passed, and Harry was glad that his last summer was an enjoyable one. Before he knew it, he was at Diagon Alley buying his supplies.
"Come on, Harry, you know you want to!" cried Hermione's voice.
"NO! Harry, don't do it!" Ron shot back, almost afraid. Harry laughed. Ever since he told Hermione, Ginny, and Ron about his honorary O.W.L.s, Hermione had been trying to get Harry to enter Arithmancy. Ron had done the exact opposite, and warned him about the horrible prospects, going so far as to say he might end up Head Boy if he wasn't careful. Ginny didn't take sides, and merely laughed at the two every time they brought it up.
"Harry, you received full marks on the Arithmancy section of the O.W.L.s. I'm sure you could do well in the class!" Hermione pleaded.
Ron gave a cough that sounded like "Head-Boy!"
Hermione said, "I don't know about that. I mean, Harry's basically broken every rule the school has had. And I'm sure they've already filled to spot as well."
Ron retorted, "Oh yeah? Well, they named you Head Girl, and you've broken about every rule, too!"
Hermione harrumphed, and said, "Me? I don't break rules!"
Ron laughed, and said, "Oh, yeah? What about the time you entered the 3rd floor corridor in your first year?"
Harry added, "Don't forget about the Polyjuice potion!"
"What about the third year when she attacked Snape?" Ron asked.
Ginny involuntarily asked, "Hermione attacked Professor Snape?"
Harry smiled and said, "Yeah. But that was while she was aiding an international fugitive."
Ron loudly sighed, "I'm dating a bad girl!" Hermione hit him, and Harry and Ginny laughed.
"Ok!" admitted Hermione, "I've broken a few rules!"
"I suppose she broke all sorts of rules while she was up at Durmstrang, too," Harry commented.
"Did not!" Hermione hissed.
"Oh, loads," Ron said casually. "You know, I'm beginning to wonder whether Hermione's the best choice for the Head Girl."
Hermione shot Ron a nasty look, and Ron quickly said, "I'm kidding! Kidding!"
Ginny laughed and said, "Ignore those two, Harry. Are you going to sign up for Arithmancy?" Ron and Hermione became quiet, obviously interested what Harry would say.
"Well," Harry slowly said, "Last year I learned a lot while I was guarding Vector's class. I actually liked the subject – it was a lot like mathematics class back in the muggle schools. Plus, I did better on the Arithmancy part of the O.W.L.s than I did in the divination section. So I guess I'll try it out."
Hermione smiled and pulled out a book from behind her back. "Numerology, Arithmancy, and You," she said, "Your Arithmancy text – I already got it for you."
Harry laughed, and the four made their way to the Apothecary. After refilling their potions supplies and grabbing some ice cream, the four gathered their gear and exited through the Leaky Cauldron. Harry looked outside the taxi as the four traveled to King's Cross and thought, I've only got one more year left. What am I going to do? Do I want to play Quidditch? What about becoming an Auror? Or becoming a ministry official wouldn't be bad, as long as it wasn't a stuffy job like Crouch or Percy had.
Harry's mind turned over the possibilities, but before he could come to any conclusions, he was already being pulled out of the cab by Ginny.
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Sorry to cut this chapter at a slightly odd place. But next chapter includes the sorting, which promises to be long by itself.
Seifer: Don't worry about it! Jeez, you apologize for missing a chapter. I'd be more worried about the people out there reading it that aren't reviewing…
Ariel: I'm glad you love cheesy lines. Hopefully, though, I can avoid making any more. I really don't want this to turn into a Bond flick.
Garina: Sorry to disappoint, but I don't know if I'm going to put an Irish Drinking song in. Tell you what, if any of you out there have a preference, give me a review about it. If a lot of people want one, I'll think about putting one in.
Anyway, Review please!